3/9/2013 |
Nicasio sees progress despite tough outingRockies right-hander Juan Nicasio had an eventful, but ultimately productive 3 2/3 innings on the mound Saturday against the Angels. The righty saw progress with his slider and his changeup, which made the mixed bag -- four runs on seven hits but three strikeouts against one walk -- an overall positive.

3/9/2013 |
Tulowitzki shines on special weekendFor the first time in a while, Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki cut loose around the bag -- in a jaw-dropping way -- and in the batter's box on Saturday afternoon. He made some outstanding defensive plays and hit a double and a home run over the left-field wall.

3/9/2013 |
Young gives Weiss options with lineupEric Young Jr. is making the idea of starting him as a change-of-pace to the Rockies' lineup look better and better each time manager Walt Weiss tests him in Cactus League play. Saturday against the Angels, Young easily beat out an infield bouncer to short in his first at-bat, had a solid single to left his second time up and dropped a bunt single in his third at-bat to lift his spring batting average to .474 in seven games.

3/9/2013 |
Crawford, Kemp continue to make steady progressIt's still more than three weeks until Opening Day and that's a good thing for the Dodgers, as Matt Kemp and Carl Crawford will need it. Kemp went 0-for-3 with two more strikeouts Saturday and is now hitless in 11 at-bats with five strikeouts since left shoulder surgery.

3/9/2013 |
Berry could return to lineup on SundayThe logjam of injured players in Tigers camp might finally be about to clear. After Brennan Boesch, Don Kelly and Ramon Santiago all returned from injuries in the past week, Quintin Berry might be cleared to play on Sunday.

3/9/2013 |
Worth making a case for roster spotDanny Worth made the Tigers' Opening Day roster last year, but it was a short stay until the team needed a fifth starter. It was also one of six different stints he spent in the big leagues over the course of the season. He'd like to find a better fit. The more he hits like he has this spring, the better chance he gives himself to make the club.

3/9/2013 |
Kobernus gets start in left fieldSaturday exemplified the role Jeff Kobernus is going to fill if he makes the Tigers' roster. He started in left field and batted against a left-handed starter.

3/9/2013 |
Fister slowly rounding into formLike Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, Doug Fister held off on his throwing program until later in the offseason so that he could rest his arm. Like Verlander and Scherzer, he's hoping to use the longer Spring Training schedule to increase his workload gradually leading up to Opening Day.

3/9/2013 |
Jeter, Pettitte happy, grateful for their 'brother' MoWhen Mariano Rivera walked into the pavilion just outside George M. Steinbrenner Field on Saturday to announce his retirement, he was followed closely by Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte. While the rest of the team stood in one corner of the room, Jeter and Pettitte were the only two Yankees sitting down not far from Rivera as he announced that he would retire after the 2013 season.

3/9/2013 |
Utilizing slider, A's Straily pleased with effortMaking his third start of the spring Saturday in competition for a back-end rotation spot, A's right-hander Dan Straily mixed in his slider more against the Rangers, turning in what he called his best outing so far.

3/9/2013 |
Young acknowledges slow start for NationalsRight-hander Chris Young made his first official start for the Nationals on Saturday afternoon, pitching three innings and allowing three runs on three hits in an 8-7 victory over the Marlins.

3/9/2013 |
Drew remains sidelined with concussionRed Sox shortstop Stephen Drew is still experiencing symptoms from the mild concussion he sustained on Thursday, and was again out of the lineup for Saturday night's game against the Orioles.

3/9/2013 |
Mo irreplaceable not only on hill, but also in clubhouseThe Yankees already had to face the reality of a world without Mariano Rivera last year. But after Saturday's announcement that the 2013 season will be the iconic closer's last hurrah, they'll have time to prepare for what comes next. But of course, even in their wildest dreams, the Yankees can't hope to simply replace Rivera.

3/9/2013 |
Benches clear after Canada-Mexico plunkingTempers flared and things turned ugly late with an extended benches-clearing incident and a fan striking someone on the field with a thrown water bottle during the ninth inning of Canada's 10-3 win over Mexico in the World Baseball Classic on Saturday afternoon at Chase Field.

3/9/2013 |
Papi in danger of opening season on DLDavid Ortiz's right Achilles injury is not improving as quickly as was hoped, putting his Opening Day availability in jeopardy, so the Red Sox sent the slugger out for a precautionary MRI exam on Saturday.

3/9/2013 |
Lemke reflects on RBI single off Mo in '96 SeriesWhen Mark Lemke produced an RBI single off Mariano Rivera in the eighth inning of Game 6 of the 1996 World Series, his only thought was that he had just brought the Braves within three runs of the Yankees.

3/9/2013 |
Minor effective while working out of troubleMike Minor was far from perfect as he completed four scoreless innings in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. But the Braves left-hander showed poise as he scattered three singles and pitched around two defensive miscues.

3/9/2013 |
Braves confident in Laird's ability to handle pitchersLess than a week after David Ross signed with the Red Sox in November, the Braves signed Gerald Laird, a veteran catcher who possesses many of the same traits that made Ross a popular figure as Atlanta's backup catcher the previous four seasons.

3/9/2013 |
Jeter singles in first game since fracturing ankleYankees captain Derek Jeter returned to the field Saturday for the first time since Game 1 of the American League Championship Series last October, going 1-for-2 as New York's designated hitter in a 2-1 loss to the Braves.